"No matter who it is or what their style of play is, you don't want to come in and have a game like you did [Sunday], such an emotional game and a good win on the road, and not match that same energy," Griffin said. "I thought we responded well."

It helped that the Clippers shot lights-out from three-point range, making 16 of 28 attempts (57.1%).

Crawford was seven for 12 from three-point range, Hedo Turkoglu was four for seven and Barnes was two for three.

"[Winning] two out of three on this trip was really good for us, especially after losing the first one," said Paul, referring to a loss at Memphis on Friday night. "This was one of those games people relax. I think tonight showed how much we appreciate this New Orleans team in that we knew that they liked to execute and that they play hard and that we had to come out and compete."

Griffin was a force in the third quarter, overpowering fellow All-Star forward Anthony Davis in the post, running and getting deep position down low, drawing fouls.

The muscular 6-foot-10, 251-pound Griffin used his strength to deal with the 6-10, 220-pound Davis.

Griffin scored 11 points in the third, including nine consecutive in a 2-minute 10-second span.

But it wasn't as if Davis backed down. He finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and four fouls.

"He's playing at a very high level right now," Griffin said. "So I was trying to get into him and make him put the ball on the floor."

Crawford knocked down a three-pointer while being fouled by Eric Gordon in the second quarter. He made the free throw for a four-point play, the 40th of his career during the regular season, an NBA record.

It was all part of a Clippers victory over a Pelicans team that has the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference, one day after a big win over a Thunder team that leads the West.

"[Sunday] was a good win, but if we don't come out and play well tonight, then last night, what does that mean?" Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. "Our goal was to go 3-0 on this trip. I think we have one more five-game trip and that's it. So that's not bad."